Rugby: Chiefs locked down ahead of Super 14 final

The Chiefs will see a hostile wall of blue around the field at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday morning. Photo / Getty Images

The Chiefs have adopted a siege mentality ahead of Sunday morning's Super 14 final against the Bulls in Pretoria.

The players have been warned about the dangers lurking on the city's streets and advised not to leave their hotel. Their routine involves training, eating, playing cards and sleeping. Bed time is 7.30pm. Their only impressions of the city and the fervour gripping the locals have come through the team bus window on the way to and from training.

"We've pretty much been locked in our hotel for the last three days," centre Richard Kahui said.

"We haven't had too much of a chance to feel the vibe around town but when we go out in the bus we see a lot of blue flags and blue Bulls jerseys."

It's a sight Kahui and his team-mates are expecting to see a lot more of. They might not be doing the tourist thing in the South African capital, but having faced the Bulls in a dress rehearsal just four weeks ago, they are at least acquainted with what they can expect at a heaving Loftus Versfeld, when a South African team hosts the competition's showpiece finale for just the second time.

"Obviously we'll be playing in front a pretty hostile crowd of about 55,000 people and we know it is going to be hard to win," Kahui said.

"We have got the altitude, the travel and the sleep patterns [to deal with]. But we are all really confident. Last time we were here we didn't play as well as we could have and we lost [33-27], but we know we are good enough to beat this side as long as we don't let them get a roll on.

"There is a good confidence, a quiet confidence throughout our team - but we know we have to do a few things right if we are going to take the title."

The fact that Kahui was on media duties was a positive sign for the Chiefs. Their key centre missed the semifinal victory over the Hurricanes with an injured calf. He had feared the long-haul trip to Africa might cause the injury to seize up, but he encountered no problems during Tuesday's training session.

"I got through it really good. I was actually a bit nervous, I wasn't sure how well it would come through after the plane trip. But it is going pretty well at the moment so fingers crossed I am named in the side."

He almost certainly will be. Chiefs coach Ian Foster was due to reveal his line-up this afternoon. Kahui's inclusion is likely to be the only change, with Dwayne Sweeney set to revert to the wing in place of injured winger Sitiveni Sivivatu.